Publix vs Whole Foods Market:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Publix had more branded searches than Whole Foods Market among grocery chains in the United States. Publix had about 4.1 million branded searches, while Whole Foods Market had 2.2 million. Publix made up 7% of all grocery chain searches we track, and Whole Foods Market accounted for 3.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about grocery chains, Whole Foods Market appeared in two of the three answers and Publix in one. Publix and Whole Foods Market were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Publix, about 83% more searches than Whole Foods Market
Who does AI mention more?
Whole Foods Market, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Publix in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top grocery chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Whole Foods Market was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Publix was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. Publix and Whole Foods Market were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Aldi1st
Trader Joe's2nd
H-E-B3rd- Publix4th
- Whole Foods Market5th
WinCo Foods5th
Wegmans7th
Kroger8th
Safeway–
Meijer–- +2 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Aldi3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Trader Joe's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Whole Foods Market2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- H-E-B2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- WinCo Foods2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Kroger1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Publix1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Wegmans1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Safeway0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Meijer0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about grocery chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which grocery store chain is the best in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best supermarket chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which grocery chain in the US has the lowest prices?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“grocery stores”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“supermarkets”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Is Publix or Whole Foods Market more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Publix and Whole Foods Market by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 grocery chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Publix, Whole Foods Market. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Trader Joe's | Aldi | Kroger | Safeway | Publix | Meijer | Food Lion | Wegmans | Whole Foods Market | H-E-B | WinCo Foods | Albertsons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.9% | 18% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 24.9% | 16.7% | 13.7% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 6.1% | 5% | 4.1% | 5% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 23.7% | 15.8% | 13% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 23% | 18.8% | 12.6% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 25.5% | 17.2% | 14% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 3% | 2.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 27.1% | 18.1% | 12.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 23.8% | 19.4% | 13.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| May 2026 | 26.8% | 18% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3% | 2.6% | 3% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.2% | 18.2% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.7% | 18.6% | 12.5% | 10.2% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 23.3% | 19% | 12.8% | 8.6% | 7% | 7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 28.5% | 15.7% | 12.8% | 8.6% | 7% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 2.6% |
How has the Publix and Whole Foods Market comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Publix was ahead of Whole Foods Market in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Publix’s share of searches among grocery chains in the United States moved from 8.1% to 7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5M to 4.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Whole Foods Market’s share of searches among grocery chains in the United States moved from 4.4% to 3.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.7M to 2.2M.
How did search popularity change for United States grocery chains in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Publix rose from 6th to 5th among grocery chains in the United States.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Whole Foods Market in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.7M to 2.2M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Publix’s and Whole Foods Market’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Publix
1 branded search term
- publix
Whole Foods Market
1 branded search term
- whole foods
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